Thursday, April 24, 2008

Top Ten April 25 - May 4

Lady Windermere's Fan
Performed by Vex Theatre
This Oscar Wild play will be presented at the Elgin Art Showcase. Tickets are $15, for Seniors and Students, $12. Tickets are available at the door, but cash only. Reservations and further info can be done online at www.vextheatre.org.

In the gallery: "Paint:2008"
A collection of contemporary works will be on exhibit the same duration as Vex Theatre's play, created by artists Laura Brown, Renee Dankert, Erin Denk, Mary Mariutto, Rick Nueberger, Steve Oleksy, and Sharon Settles.

Fri. & Sat., April 25 & 26, 8pm
Sunday, April 27, 3pm
Elgin Art Showcase, 164 Division Street


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"Let's Get This Show on the Road"
American Idol's Leslie Hunt Performing Live at the Hemmens to support local programs

American Idol contestant Leslie Hunt will join the Elgin Junior Service Board and community volunteers in presenting "Let's Get This Show On The Road," a musical and comedy production. This is the ESJB's 27th follies production and all proceeds from this event support the programs run by the EJSB to better the lives of women and children throughout the community.

Leslie Hunt, was voted a top 10 female vocalist in 2007, during Season Six, a.k.a. "The Season of Sanjaya." Ms. Hunt is a St. Charles, Illinois native and is currently performing her own material throughout the Chicagoland area. She is releasing her own album of self-composed music July 1, 2008 through her own company, Benesklie Productions.

Tickets, priced from $15, are available by calling the Hemmens Box Office at 847.931.5900. Special "Patron" tickets are available for $35 each and include a cocktail hour prior to the show and a meet and greet with American Idol contestant Leslie Hunt. Patrons must be 21 years and older. For more information visit www.elginjsb.org or contact chairperson Deirdre White at 847.363.0968.

Friday & Saturday April 25 & 26, 8pm
Hemmens, 45 Symphony Way

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Out to Lunch at Akina's
Is it Springtime for a spring roll?:)

Join us this Monday to savor spring and healthy Thai food at Akina's. A buffet spread of Downtown favorites will be offered along with beverages. The cost is $8.50, all inclusive. Our guest speaker will be executive director Johnny Placeres, of the Neighborhood Housing Services of Fox Valley(NHS). NHS just moved to Downtown in the past six months and is a member of the Downtown Neighborhood Association. NHS will also be visible next weekend at the Cinco de Mayo Festival.

Monday, April 28, Noon
Akina's Thai Restaurant, 23 S. Grove Avenue


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May is Preservation Month
Events, walks, lectures, activities...

The Elgin community shares its pride, concern, and ideas on Preservation in the month of May, kicking off with Elgin's Mayor's Awards on May 1 at 6pm at the Heritage Ballroom, Centre - 100 Symphony Way. Historic Preservation Specialist, Jennifer Fritz-Williams remarked "The awards recognize creative and imaginative efforts made toward neighborhood and downtown revitalization with three honors of distinction." For the months' activities click HERE.

For a joint Fox Valley Preservation activity on the topic of "Green Preservation" and good food in Geneva click HERE.

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Cinco de Mayo Next Weekend
Carnival, Festival & Parade

It's time to get outside and soak up the beginning of festival season in Downtown Elgin between the Gail Borden Public Library and Hemmens at Kimball and Grove! The Cinco de Mayo festival will offer live music, lots of food, carnival rides and games, children's activities, business and information booths, and much more! The Festival Hours are as follows:

Thursday, May 1 - 5pm - 10pm
Friday, May 2, 5pm - 11pm
Saturday, May 3, 1pm - 11pm Hours
Sunday, May 4, 1pm - 10pm

Parade - Saturday, May 3, 12pm
(The Parade will start at Spring and Highland and will go North on Spring Street, then turn west onto Symphony and go all the way to the Festival site)

Entertainment Schedule, Competitions, & Wristband Specials for the Carnival Rides

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Applications for Upcoming Events
4th of July Parade & Harvest Market - organized and sponsored by the Downtown Neighborhood Association

It's that time of year to plan on promoting your business and organization, or just having fun with a group of friends and family at the 2008 4th of July Parade! So download your application and get it in before May 30, 2008. The sooner it is in, the better chance to be staged closer to the beginning of the parade!

Also are you a farmer in the area or have friends who sell their home grown food at Farmer's Markets in Chicagoland? Or you have a favorite vendor that you have liked at a different farmer's market and would like to see them here in Elgin? We are looking for vendors for the 2008 Harvest Market season in Downtown Elgin. So download an application to get the details - Early Deadline is May 1, but applications for the whole season can be taken until June 6.

Questions? Call 847.488.1456 or e-mail thudson@elginil.org.

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Regional Competition Needs Help
Looking for ways to serve in the Elgin community?

The National Christian Forensics and Communication Association has a wonderful opportunity for adults who enjoy helping teens. The league will be holding a regional competition on the campus of Judson University in Elgin, May 6-8, and is in need of 500 local volunteers to serve as judges. No experience is necessary; there will be an orientation prior to each round. Judges can donate a few hours or a day to help make this valuable experience, a success for the students and the community. If you are interested, please contact Sue at (630) 514-3971 or by e-mail at judges06@gmail.com.

Tuesday - Thursday, May 6-8
Judson University, 1151 N. State Street

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The Greatest Story eBertolt
The Janus Theatre company presents the final show in their 2007-2008 season.

The Greatest Story eBertolt: A Brecht Review - a new show celebrating the life and writings of the late German playwright and poet, Bertolt Brecht. Elgin native Sarafina Vecchio created the piece by adapting the writings from Bertolt Brecht and arranging the music from Kurt Weill. She's also directing the plays.

The Story
In this collage of music, theatre and poetry, six actors find themselves together in a run-down German café. With just their will and charisma they tell the story of Bertolt Brecht - a revolutionary poet who found fame in Germany as playwright, but because of his strong opposition to Hitler's ideas he was forced to flee Germany and ended up in America where he found a new enemy - Joseph McCarthy and the Red Scare. The Greatest Story eBertolt reminds us that every choice, decision and vote counts.

The Tickets
Tickets are $15 regular, $12 student/senior, $10 for groups of 8 or more, and can be reserved by calling 847-931-0637. For more information, go to www.janustheatre.org.

In the Gallery
Throughout the duration of Janus Theatre's play photographs of Bruce Starrenburg "Route of Abbys: Sacred Architecture of France and Great Britain" will be on display.

Fri.& Sat., May 2&3; 9&10; 16&17, 8pm
Sunday, May 4, 11,18, 6pm
Elgin Art Showcase, 164 Division Street

PHOTO: CLOCKWISE FROM BOTTOM TO TOP: MEREDITH KOCH (ELGIN), JIM PIERCE (SOUTH ELGIN), RISE DAWN JONES (ELGIN), STEVE MACARUS (ELGIN), JOCELYN MILLS (CAROL STREAM) AND GREG PETERS (ELGIN).

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Gershwin: American Icon Festival
Performed by the Elgin Symphony Orchestra and conductor Robert Hanson

This season's American Icon Festival will feature the eminent Pascal Roge performing two of the best-loved piano concertos of the 20th century - those of Gershwin and Ravel. The program concludes with An American in Paris, a rhapsodic invention portraying the vivid experiences of a visitor to the romantic city by and day and by night. For tickets call 847.888.4000 or go online to www.elginsymphony.org.

Friday, May 2, 1:30pm
Friday & Saturday, May 3 & 4, 8pm
Sunday, May 4, 3:30pm
Hemmens, 45 Symphony Way

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3rd Annual Asian Fusion Festival

The Asian American Community of Elgin (AACE) will be hosting its 3rd Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Celebration "Simply Asia - The "Cultural Avenue" on May 31 at the Hemmens Auditorium. This will be a big celebration of culture - Asian and beyond - within the greater Kane and Cook County community with over 1,000 people enjoying an enticing experience of lots of food, music, and performance. Mayor Ed Schock is serving as Honorary Chairman for the festival.

Sponsors are encouraged to donate raffle and silent auction items which would be gratefully appreciated. For more info click HERE.

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